Where We Live

Every year, we produce a summer reading hour to talk about some of our favorite books of this year, and give you recommendations of the best beach reads. And this year, we’re diving into the illustrious, the notorious, the infamous paperback: the romance novel. There’s a lot of stigma attached to romance reading, especially within the reading community. But this top grossing genre is actually one...

This hour, we’re celebrating some of the most memorable moments with Katie Pellico as she begins another chapter of her career. She'll soon start a new position managing development and communication at Common Ground High School, Urban Farm and Environmental Education Center in New Haven, but we won't soon forget coverage she helped to lead on... Connecticut's slate of new social studies initiativ...

It’s hard getting your book published. It’s even harder when you’re an author of color. Between 1950 and 2018, 96% of American fiction books published were written by white authors. Today, hear from two Latina authors in Connecticut about their debut books. They’ll talk about navigating the publishing industry and the importance of centering marginalized voices. In her novel, The Girls in Queens ,...

When you think of Hartford, Connecticut, what comes to mind? Maybe Elizabeth Park, good eats, and our state capitol? Odds are, you’re probably not thinking of Hartford as a destination for making movies! But some creatives are trying to change that. After graduating from the Yale, Connecticut native TJ Noel-Sullivan lived in Los Angeles for a short while, but he found himself drawn back to Hartfor...

Stamford-based nonprofit Keep America Beautiful found almost 50 billion pieces of litter along U.S. road- and waterways in 2020. This hour, we’re spotlighting some of the small-but-mighty efforts to clean litter and protect wildlife in Connecticut. New Haven river keeper Peter Davis and his assistant David Burgess have been clearing parks and rivers in the Elm City for decades, one trash bag at a...

Dating in 2024 can be tough. There are no shortage of stories about dating in the age of Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and more! But today, we're going to talk about dating, and falling in love, when you're an older adult. Last fall, the spinoff show “The Golden Bachelor” started a national conversation about falling in love in midlife and beyond. Today we hear from experts about dating in this age range...

Finding long-term resources and programs for young people with autism can be challenging, and in some cases, incredibly disheartening. The needs of autistic youth can vary. As a spectrum disorder, some diagnosed with high functioning autism can live relatively normal lives pursuing college, careers and relationships. But others require more support. Those with intellectual disabilities and communi...

Historian and scholar Deb Harkness was studying the intersection of science and magic in history and the humanities, when she was struck by the trend of "vampire boyfriend" stories in books and popular culture. She asked herself, "What if there really are these creatures living around us? What do they do for a living? Why have I never met any of them? And would it really be a great thing to have a...

Even before the pandemic, half of all adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. In 2023, a report from Surgeon General Vivek Murthy showed that loneliness and isolation has physical consequences like increased risk of heart disease, stroke and dementia. Murthy stressed how social connection is the key to individual and community health and well being. This idea of social connec...

Education budget cuts from this legislative session are slamming schools at all levels, from early education to higher education. This hour, we hear from Connecticut Mirror budget reporter Keith Phaneuf, and education reporter Jessika Harkay. Plus, we check in with the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, and Chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system...

Housing in Connecticut has not only gotten more expensive, it’s much harder to find.  The state vacancy rate is only 3.5% and the median rent is $2,000. Housing touches every aspect of our life. From health to education to community,  where you live,  makes a difference. So why is housing so hard to find? There’s no easy answer, but our guests say that in order to create a better future where hous...

A recent UConn study found that three-quarters of Black households with cars in the U.S. spend over 15% of their monthly income on car-related expenses. For these researchers, transportation shouldn’t have to mean car ownership. This hour, we spotlight "walkability" and public transportation alternatives. Hear from city planners and civil engineers who are driving the conversation forward to depri...

June is Infertility Awareness Month. According to the  World Health Organization, around 1 in 6 people are now affected by infertility.  A new study suggests that microplastics might be impacting  male infertility. And while technological advances offer opportunities and hope for many would-be parents, treatments like IVF are expensive, and they’re not available for everyone. Plus, they don’t alwa...

In 2023, book club event listings grew 24% over the prior year according to the ticketing platform Eventbrite. Celebrities like Reese Witherspoon and RuPaul are among the celebrities who have launched their own book clubs. This hour, we hear about these new communities of readers, and how the influence of BookTok and BookStagram factors. We’re joined by one Silent Book Club chapter taking off in N...

This week, Muslims across the world celebrate the holiday of Eid-al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice. Today, we are hearing from Muslims around Connecticut celebrating this sacred and special time honoring those who have made the Islamic pilgrimage known as Hajj. We’ll hear from Connecticut residents, including one who is making the Islamic pilgrimage known as Hajj. If you’re celebrating this holida...

In the LGBTQ community, “found” or “chosen family” can be crucial. It's the idea of a social support system beyond your biological family, and one of the themes Ella Dawson explores in her book,  But How Are You, Really? This hour, the sex and culture columnist from Connecticut joins us to discuss her first novel, found family, burnout, second-chance romances, and much more. GUESTS: Ella Dawson:  ...

Fools and wise man, come hither! This summer’s day program of Where We Live will dedicate an hour to the master of comedy and tragedy alike, Sir William Shakespeare. Outdoor productions of William Shakespeare’s  plays go back to well…the time of William Shakespeare! And every summer this  tradition comes alive on stages across Connecticut. Today, we talk about Shakespeare in the park, the common a...

In Connecticut, there are LGBTQ community centers in New Haven, Norwalk and, most recently, Bridgeport. There have also been  recent efforts to launch a queer hub in West Hartford. These spaces are important for community, safety, resources, and even are associated with reduced suicide risk among LGBTQ youth,  according to the Trevor Project. Connecticut Public  reported on the New Haven Pride Cen...

Connecticut has had its share of intense storms, but  this year’s hurricane is expected to be even longer and more intensive than ever before. Today, we talk about what  to expect and how to prepare. Damage from hurricanes doesn’t just happen on the coast.  We hear from farmers inland on how they’re preparing. Got a question about hurricane season? GUESTS: Juliana Barrett:  Extension Educator Emer...

For decades, there were cities and towns that were all-white on purpose. These communities are known as "sundown towns." Because this practice was both formal and informal, researchers put together a database of these laws, customs and firsthand accounts, under the leadership of the late sociologist and civil rights champion James Loewen. At the peak of the exclusionary practice in 1970, an estima...

Today, we get an update from humanitarian aid organizations with workers on the ground in Gaza and how they are addressing this continuing crisis. Before these airstrikes,  the area was facing famine, mass displacement, and severe trauma  from witnessing the ongoing war in Gaza. We also get an update on other crises happening around the globe including the ongoing conflict in Sudan, and the parall...

Author Garrard Conley published his first book in 2016, "Boy Erased" . The bestselling memoir, relaying Conley's experience undergoing conversion therapy at 19, inspired a major motion picture two years later. This hour, Conley discusses his newest book and his first foray into fiction. "All the World Beside" explores queerness in Puritan New England. Set in 1700s Massachusetts and inspired by Nat...

Beloved Muppet Elmo recently asked social media a simple question,  "How is everybody doing?"  The answers ranged from incredulous to raging. The trauma-dumping on Elmo begged the question: Are we burnt out? Burnout has been reported in many industries: Connecticut Public has previously covered  burnout in health care , and among  early child care educators and teachers , for example. When  Where...

You’re never too young to learn about climate change. Younger Americans are more likely to engage with the issue, according to research on Gen Z and Millennials from Pew. This hour, we hear from the authors of three children’s books about climate change, and taking action, including UConn sociologist Dr. Phoebe Godfrey, meteorologist Paul Douglas, environmental scientist Lena Champlin, and residen...

You’ve heard of Bigfoot and Nessie, but did you know Connecticut is home to a host of creatures, or "cryptids"? Cryptozoology is the study of animals whose existence is a matter of debate. While Bigfoot sightings have been reported where we live, sea serpents, the Glastonbury Glawackus, and plenty of others call Connecticut home. This hour, we hear from Patrick Scalisi and Valerie Ruby-Omen, the a...